Jamaican Patois Phrasebook
32 phrases across 4 everyday situations — each with its English meaning and how to say it.
Greetings & goodbyes
The phrases you'll hear first and use most — how to greet someone, answer back, and part well.
- Wah gwaan? What's going on? / What's up? wah-GWAAN
- Mi deh yah. I'm here. / I'm alright. mee-DEH-yah
- Everyting irie. Everything is fine. EV-ry-ting eye-REE
- Weh yuh deh? Where are you? weh yuh DEH
- Long time mi nuh see yuh. I haven't seen you in a long time. lang-TIME mi nuh SEE yuh
- Walk good. Take care. / Travel safely. waak-GUD
- Likkle more. See you later. LIK-kl MORE
- Respect, mi bredren. Respect, my friend. ri-SPEK mi BRED-rin
Everyday manners
Please, thank you, excuse me — the phrases that make you sound respectful rather than like a tourist reading a list.
- Tank yuh. Thank you. TANK yuh
- Nuh problem. No problem. / You're welcome. nuh PRAB-lem
- Beg yuh a favour. Could you do me a favour? beg yuh a FAY-va
- Scuse mi. Excuse me. SKYUUZ mi
- Mi sorry fi dat. I'm sorry about that. mi SAH-ri fi dat
- Nuh badda. Don't bother. / Never mind. nuh BAD-da
- Yuh good? Are you okay? yuh GUD
- Bless up. Blessings to you. (warm sign-off) BLES up
Food & drink
Ordering, asking what's in it, and saying it was good — at a cookshop, a jerk pan, or somebody's yard.
- Wah yuh have fi eat? What do you have to eat? wah yuh HAV fi EAT
- Mi waan a plate a rice an peas. I want a plate of rice and peas. mi WAAN a PLATE a rice an PEAS
- Mek it likkle spicy. Make it a little spicy. mek it LIK-kl SPY-si
- Nuh put nuh meat inna it. Don't put any meat in it. nuh put nuh MEAT in-a it
- Dis sweet bad! This tastes amazing! dis SWEET bad
- Mi belly full. I'm full. mi BEL-li FULL
- How much fi dat? How much for that? how MUCH fi dat
- Gimme a box juice. Give me a juice box. GIM-mi a BOX juice
Out & about
Getting around, making plans, and the phrases you'll hear at a dance or on the road.
- Weh yuh a go? Where are you going? weh yuh a GO
- Mi soon come. I'll be back shortly. mi SOON come
- Di place a keep tonight. There's an event happening tonight. di PLACE a KEEP tu-NITE
- Yuh a come a di dance? Are you coming to the dance? yuh a COME a di DANCE
- Mi soon reach. I'm almost there. mi SOON reach
- Di road tuff. The road is rough. / Things are hard. di ROAD TUFF
- Hol a vibes. Enjoy yourself. / Relax and have a good time. HOL a VIBES
- Mi gone. I'm leaving now. mi GAAN